Bama bigs lead the way

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By Jeff Gravley

Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack, DJ Fluker, Cyrus Kouandjio, Anthony Steen. You may not have heard much about them because they are offensive linemen, but after watching Alabama blow up Notre Dame, these Bama bigs are a reason why the Tide rolled the Irish.

Jones won his 3rd national championship ring playing his 3rd different position on the offensive line. The senior played his final game with torn ligaments in his left foot and even gave his own quarterback a shove in the fourth quarter. But he and the four other offensive linemen protected their quarterback from Notre Dame and kept AJ McCarron's uniform clean.

The big fellas also created paths for Eddie Lacy and TJ Yeldon to run through. One particular play caught my eye. On Lacy's first touchdown run, right guard Anthony Steen brushed the defensive lineman on his way to his assignment, block Manti Te'o. Steen tripped before getting to the Notre Dame All-American but instead of staying grounded, Steen lifted himself to his knees quickly enough to get a shoulder on Te'o who couldn't reach Lacy much less tackle him. The result was a 20-yard opening drive touchdown.

Like their team, Alabama's offensive front was the best in college football. Some with much deeper knowledge of Bama football than me, are calling this the best offensive line in Crimson Tide history. They were certainly in tune during the National Championship game against one of the top statistical defenses of 2012.

This was Mack truck meeting Mitsubishi down in Miami.

Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack, DJ Fluker, Cyrus Kouandjio, Anthony Steen. They got much less attention during the national championship telecast than AJ McCarron's girlfriend, Katherine Webb. But from a football perspective, Bama doesn't score without them.

Copyright 2013 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

uBniceJan 10, 2013

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Given the state of intercollegiate D-I football today... how many of those guys can read and write? What kind of STUDENTS are they? How many of them do not have the "academic chops" to be on any college campus? Hey! It may be that all of them will graduate Phi Beta Kappa... I don't know what their academic backgrounds and prowess is or may be. But... given the state of college football today (same for college basketball) - I have to ask the question!

— Posted by Objective Scientist

The state of D-1 football today is that it is strictly an entertainment business that has no business on a University campus. It should be operated as a &quot;pro&quot; business, pay the players, and that way we won't have to concern ourselves with the sheer hypocrisy of asking 18-21 year olds to generate millions of dollars and in return, mostly not get a degree or get a very watered down degree.

We are the only country in the world to use our college kids as unpaid semi-pro workers.

BattlingBishop 5Jan 10, 2013

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BREAKING NEWS: Obama has stepped in and decided that Alabama got too many points yesterday and has redistributed some of those points to Notre Dame resulting in a tie in the game and a tie for the national championship. When asked for a comment, Obama said, "Alabama obviously got more than their fair share. They didn't win that all by themselves! What does one team need all those points for"?

— Posted by Raleigh Rocks 1

+1....&amp; everybody gets a trophy.

Raleigh Rocks 1Jan 9, 2013

BREAKING NEWS: Obama has stepped in and decided that Alabama got too many points yesterday and has redistributed some of those points to Notre Dame resulting in a tie in the game and a tie for the national championship. When asked for a comment, Obama said, &quot;Alabama obviously got more than their fair share. They didn't win that all by themselves! What does one team need all those points for&quot;?

DeaconsJan 8, 2013

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Given the state of intercollegiate D-I football today... how many of those guys can read and write? What kind of STUDENTS are they? How many of them do not have the "academic chops" to be on any college campus? Hey! It may be that all of them will graduate Phi Beta Kappa... I don't know what their academic backgrounds and prowess is or may be. But... given the state of college football today (same for college basketball) - I have to ask the question!

— Posted by Objective Scientist

Jones, number 95, center for Bama already has his masters in accounting with a 4.0 average. I looked up their SAT scores and gpa's as high school seniors and those scores are higher than many ACC schools.

BattlingBishop 5Jan 8, 2013

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This OL is probably as huge as most NFL teams. Probably larger than several. They did the job in fashion last night.

— Posted by VT1994Hokie

Yep....glad to see the big fellas get a little credit.

StunGunnJan 8, 2013

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Compelling stuff. This was obvious by the end of the first drive. My milk and cookies kicked in about halftime and I fell asleep.

— Posted by Hammerhead

My Nyquil kicked in at the half:)

StunGunnJan 8, 2013

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Given the state of intercollegiate D-I football today... how many of those guys can read and write? What kind of STUDENTS are they? How many of them do not have the "academic chops" to be on any college campus? Hey! It may be that all of them will graduate Phi Beta Kappa... I don't know what their academic backgrounds and prowess is or may be. But... given the state of college football today (same for college basketball) - I have to ask the question!

— Posted by Objective Scientist

Someone stated on one of the threads about the game that Alabama's graduation rate is 68%. That should tell you something. I heard their QB on ESPN today, and he's a very bright, articulate young man, and he's returning for his senior year so he can play with his younger brother, who will be a freshman next year, playing tight end.

takeabathgregJan 8, 2013

when was the last time those beasts were tested for PED's?

Objective ScientistJan 8, 2013

Given the state of intercollegiate D-I football today... how many of those guys can read and write? What kind of STUDENTS are they? How many of them do not have the &quot;academic chops&quot; to be on any college campus? Hey! It may be that all of them will graduate Phi Beta Kappa... I don't know what their academic backgrounds and prowess is or may be. But... given the state of college football today (same for college basketball) - I have to ask the question!